Started with fabric samples, ended up with some fire joggers… let me break down the process of sourcing and ordering an Alibaba merch item. 🧵👇
Step one— searched on Alibaba for “hypebeast”, “joggers”, “mens sweatpants” and picked six vendors with nice stuff. Contacted all of them directly asking to purchase samples.
Of those 3 had solid English and we had good communications, the others were asking a lot of questions or unresponsive. Spent $200 on ordering 2-3 samples from each of three with fabrics swatches (primarily shipping, no sample cost more than $15). Examples of pricing below.
Picked the vendor whose stuff we liked the best and ordered 1 of everything they make that was relevant ($250). Once we identified it, we sent a super detailed mock-up for quoting.
After some back and forth, we realized they couldn’t do tags we wanted even though they were on the samples. Lost a week in communication, but no sweat, we updated the design.
Next step, the full order. $1530 with shipping for 100 units. Including all our sampling costs we were at $19.80/unit
Once they arrived — photo shoot time. Flatlays, gels, plus graphic design in post. For Korova merch, it’s not about making a profit it’s about offering cool stuff our fans will like for affordable. We priced at $38, 2x sourcing, breakeven after the time for photo/design
This isn’t hard. And it’s not limited to clothes. Everything is on Alibaba. You can go cheap, premium, sustainable, electronics, furniture, you name it. Search, sample, communicate. The global economy is SO easy to access.
I’m focused on building businesses and sharing tons of resources along the way— smash that follow @orenmeetsworld
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I’ll paint a bleak version of the current marketing future for a lot of the digital marketers out there—we’ve been living in an un-precendented era for cheap value in marketing, and it's almost over.
Facebook ads, Instagram ads and Google Shopping have presented just absolutely enormous value many brands still can’t wrap their heads around, it's been an unbelievable opportunity for those that could take advantage.
But this era is fading.
The target demographics are leaving, the costs are going up, the noise is getting louder and louder, and unlike previous generations when there were new mediums to fall back on, a new hot network that could drive value—there’s nothing waiting to save us.
Debuted in 1972, back in prominence via Instagram and the never-ending circle of style in 2021, rereleased for the public to buy from the original studio that hasn't carried it since 1979.
Perfect for a conversation pit ;)
To describe his creation, Mario says “I crossed two words: camaleonte, or chameleon, an extraordinary animal capable of adapting to its environment, and onda, or wave"
Dropping free game… Here’s multiple non-clothing business ideas, with direct, vetted factory links you can get started on Alibaba with right now.
No slacking tonight, map out your company launch and hit these vendors directly.
A thread for the builders... Let's go! 🧵🧵👇
Axes. Hammers. Chisels. Crowbars. License a sick camouflage pattern, wrap these bad boys and get a Facebook target audience pointed at men who like Duck Dynasty ages 30-55 in red states. Seriously, run it.
I'm dropping some of the best Alibaba plugs to start a clothing line from the 200+ pieces of merch I've done in the last few years in this thread
Hit them up, order some samples, drop some designs, mark em up 2-5x and 💸💸
Joggers and sweats plug, this team is the truth. Have used 10x. Great to work with, can customize screenprint or embroider. Awesome communication (for Alibaba).
We met with a potential acquisition last week. They’re in an office park of cannabis companies, and are the most successful by 3x. No investment, no killer feature.
I asked the management team, what separates you from all these other businesses? The answers are below 🧵
Hours. They run 8-10, no matter what. An employee calls out, manager is in, manager out, owner is in.
Most of the competition is 10-10. The ones that are on the same hours close early or open late when they have staff issues.
2hrs a day more, compounded over years, matters.
Equity. Every employee has equity at their year mark (also the case in our business).
The barrier to getting recruited away, which is rampant in cannabis, is much higher when the team has ownership and sees a path to greater value.